Structure and method for self-aligning rotor blade joints

a technology of rotor blades and joints, which is applied in the direction of machines/engines, transportation and packaging, and final product manufacturing, etc., can solve the problems of long road transportation, limited routing of trucks, and high cost of single-piece rotor blades, and achieve the effect of facilitating mating
US20100310379A1Active Publication Date: 2010-12-09GENERAL ELECTRIC CO
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Patent Type
Applications(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
GENERAL ELECTRIC CO
Publication Date
2010-12-09

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Abstract

An inventive self-aligning blade joint structure is provided to facilitate assembly and clamping of wind turbine blade sections carried on a transporter. The blade joint structure includes alignment pins on one end bulkhead of a blade body section at the joint and complimentary female bushings on a bulkhead of an adjacent blade body section to permit fine alignment of the joint. The blade joint structure also includes through holes in the end bulkheads for the adjacent blade body sections to permit clamping of the sections in preparation for application of adhesive bonding to the joint. A pair of male scarfed surfaces of spar caps extend from one blade section into the second blade section and engage female scarfed surfaces of spar caps formed in the second blade section and recessed from the joint. An inventive method is provided to utilize the self-aligning blade joint structure for assembly of the blade sections.
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Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates generally to assembling sections of wind turbine blades and more specifically to an alignment and clamping structure and method for assembling multi-sectional wind turbine blades.

[0002] In recent years, wind turbines have become increasingly important in power generation. With increased environmental concerns related to fossil fuel power generation, wind power will grow in importance in the mix of providing electrical power. Consequently, more wind turbines will be installed. For economic reasons, it is desirable to increase the installed power per turbine. As the installed power is proportional to the diameter of the turbine rotor, the rotor sizes and turbine sizes become larger. Blade lengths continue to increase to support the higher power requirements per turbine. Typical blade lengths of current designs are up to 50 meters and greater.

[0003] Due to the often-isolated location of wind turbine farms, the rotor blades must be tr...

Claims

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